A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

For all non-colloquial uses of "the world." It is generally understood that when someone is "saving the world" they are not literally preventing the destruction of a planet, but instead preserving a way of life.

Then those people are using "world" in a way which betrays their myopia, and you shouldn't be anxious to join them in their error.

They really aren't. World is not solely defined as a planet. It has multiple meanings. That you can't easily distinguish between them, and in fact consider alternate definitions incorrect, is only your issue.

As I said, if your idea of "world" is "my way of life", I'm still calling you myopic.

Um. You really need to work on comprehension. I haven't used the word my until just now. I quite specifically said "a way of life."

Good for Bill. It sounds like the show has great backing and could be entertaining.

I just have one request - please, please, stay away from digressions on history, philosophy and metaphysics. I have seem Tyson pontificate* on subjects that are outside his discipline and draw poor or inaccurate if not erroneous conclusions. I wouldn't listen to a professor of ancient history speak authoritatively about astrophysics and hold the same in the reverse.

While it is entertaining to hold fringe characters and subjects up to ridicule - like the aforementioned Ken Ham - if one is unwilling to discuss topics outside one's own academic realm with those that study it closely, it often seems to set oneself for ridicule in the long run.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

The world as a big rock flying through space doesn't need saving, no. The world as a complex interconnected system of the only living beings that we know of in the entire universe, on the other hand? Not as simple, and whether or not it gives a shit about us we can absolutely fuck that up

My cosmology professor had a funny saying, "We are like bugs riding on the windshield of a cosmic bakery truck".

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

For all non-colloquial uses of "the world." It is generally understood that when someone is "saving the world" they are not literally preventing the destruction of a planet, but instead preserving a way of life.

Then those people are using "world" in a way which betrays their myopia, and you shouldn't be anxious to join them in their error.

They really aren't. World is not solely defined as a planet. It has multiple meanings. That you can't easily distinguish between them, and in fact consider alternate definitions incorrect, is only your issue.

As I said, if your idea of "world" is "my way of life", I'm still calling you myopic.

Pedantry is rarely helpful. Being the "well, actually..." person who intrudes into a discussion to insist upon overly specific technical definitions without actually contributing anything to the discussion is what's really myopic.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

Or a George Carlin put it:

"Folks, the planet is going to be fine. It's PEOPLE who are fucked..."

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

For all non-colloquial uses of "the world." It is generally understood that when someone is "saving the world" they are not literally preventing the destruction of a planet, but instead preserving a way of life.

Then those people are using "world" in a way which betrays their myopia, and you shouldn't be anxious to join them in their error.

They really aren't. World is not solely defined as a planet. It has multiple meanings. That you can't easily distinguish between them, and in fact consider alternate definitions incorrect, is only your issue.

As I said, if your idea of "world" is "my way of life", I'm still calling you myopic.

Pedantry is rarely helpful. Being the "well, actually..." person who intrudes into a discussion to insist upon overly specific technical definitions without actually contributing anything to the discussion is what's really myopic.

A Netflix documentary/behind the scenes show about the Planetary Society and the LightSail 2 project, hosted by Bill Nye. With interludes between the technical bits with members of the design and engineering team talking about their non-technical passions and interests(think The Secret Life of Scientists on PBS).

There is a danger in this kind of show where eventually you're going to hit on something that's near and dear to the heart of a viewer and they're going to turn on you instead of re-examining their own beliefs. Do this enough times and you'll build up quite an audience of haters.

You can just see the progression. Hmm, Homeopathy? Yeah, that's bullshit. Ok, Global Warming is real. Wait, faith healing!?! My father was cured by a faith healer, Bill Nye is a fraud!! I must immediately take to the Internet to register my disgust at the lies this charlatan is spewing!!!!!!

In May 1999, Nye was the commencement speaker at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree.[70] He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Johns Hopkins University in May 2008.[71] In May 2011, Nye received an honorary doctor of science degree from Willamette University[72] In May 2015, Rutgers University awarded him an honorary doctor of science degree and paid him a $35,000 speaker's fee for his participation as the keynote speaker at the ceremony.[73][74] In addition, Bill Nye also received an honorary doctor of pedagogy degree from Lehigh University on May 20, 2013, at the commencement ceremony

Shame Mr Wizard is no longer with us. Him and Bill could have done a duo.

Bill has said Mr. Wizard was his hero and he wanted to grow up to be just like him. I think Bill got his wish.

Mr. Wizard never became a political creature. That is where they differ.

Telling people who are wrong about science that they're wrong about science doesn't make you a "political creature" just because the people are politicians. Bullshit is bullshit regardless of the source.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

I don't find it depressive, but hopeful. If humans are the best that life has to offer, *that* would be a hopeless state of affairs.

The fact that they describe it as a "talk show" makes me wonder if episodes will be weekly (ala their other talk show 'Chelsea') rather than all at once.

This is actually one that I wouldn't mind a episodic release too much. This has to get out there NOW.Waiting to finish a season before release would take too long. Not to mention it would exclude the possibility of talking about current events. The SETI 'discovery' for instance.

I love that Nye's shifted his focus from educating children on basic science to educating the adults they've grown into on these kinds of manufactured controversies.

The weird part is... the children and the adults are probably from the same generation... its like a rerun for the kids that missed the original show?

I watched him as a kid (even went to see him do a live talk once...he even answered my question, from a bunch of audience questions submitted ahead of time! I just wish I could remember now what the question was...), and now as an adult I'm excited to see him come back with a new show. Personally, I see it more as a continuation.

And frankly, Bill Nye probably had a huge effect on my interests at a young age that have persisted into adulthood. I may not have ended up where I am now without that influence.

Not even a good one either, given that one of the show's two writers IS a practicing scientist and it being a talk show means that he'll probably be talking TO practicing scientists.

Apparently you don't know what the "appear to authority" fallacy is even though the definition was given to you. Nye's degree is a B.S. in mechanical engineering, so his status as an authority on topics such as climate science is sometimes questioned.

Having authorities on his production staff would probably mitigate this, as long as they are allowed to do their jobs.

Here's to hoping he stops pretending con artists like Ken Ham are anything but vicious liars after the money and votes of ignorant people.

While I agree with you that many of the folks making these silly claims are of questionable ethics, etc, there's a problem with using that argument in discussion with those who believe them. All making such an ad hominem attack like that does, however accurate it may be, is turns off the person you're attempting to educate regarding the issue. Just as you cannot change the culture of police brutality by shooting cops, regardless of how bad they may be, you also cannot change the opinion of a believer of someone like Ken Ham by making him out as a con artist.

You must discuss the actual problems, not the overarching philosophical one. Only then will you get [b]some]/b] of the folks to change their minds. I say "some" because many will believe regardless and there's little we can do about that. But going off on these folks in a way that makes us sound like children calling them names will only get us listened to about as much as children calling others names.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

I don't find it depressive, but hopeful. If humans are the best that life has to offer, *that* would be a hopeless state of affairs.

Except for you though, right?

No, not except for me, I'm no different than any other human. You should spend less time with angsty highschoolers though, if that's the response you're used to.

Not even a good one either, given that one of the show's two writers IS a practicing scientist and it being a talk show means that he'll probably be talking TO practicing scientists.

Apparently you don't know what the "appear to authority" fallacy is even though the definition was given to you. Nye's degree is a B.S. in mechanical engineering, so his status as an authority on topics such as climate science is sometimes questioned.

Having authorities on his production staff would probably mitigate this, as long as they are allowed to do their jobs.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

I don't find it depressive, but hopeful. If humans are the best that life has to offer, *that* would be a hopeless state of affairs.

I believe humans, as measured by their effect on the environment and other lifeforms around them, are far from the best that life can offer. At best, we're tolerated because we're Life's best hope of spreading beyond Earth.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

I don't find it depressive, but hopeful. If humans are the best that life has to offer, *that* would be a hopeless state of affairs.

I believe humans, as measured by their effect on the environment and other lifeforms around them, are far from the best that life can offer. At best, we're tolerated because we're Life's best hope of spreading beyond Earth.

Agreed... "Like a virus". Maybe more like bacteria though, to go to the environmental alteration point you're making.

Shame Mr Wizard is no longer with us. Him and Bill could have done a duo.

Bill has said Mr. Wizard was his hero and he wanted to grow up to be just like him. I think Bill got his wish.

Mr. Wizard never became a political creature. That is where they differ.

Telling people who are wrong about science that they're wrong about science doesn't make you a "political creature" just because the people are politicians. Bullshit is bullshit regardless of the source.

Nye has claimed that terrorism is due to climate change.

Nye advocates for carbon taxes.

He endorsed Obama for re-election in 2012. Frankly, he's quite smart not to endorse anyone this time around. Hopefully, that endorsement isn't what got him that awesomely un-green ride on Air Force One.

I mean really, what would he need to do to convince you he has a public political stance? Just be honest. It's not evil, just something to be aware of.

Shame Mr Wizard is no longer with us. Him and Bill could have done a duo.

Bill has said Mr. Wizard was his hero and he wanted to grow up to be just like him. I think Bill got his wish.

Mr. Wizard never became a political creature. That is where they differ.

Telling people who are wrong about science that they're wrong about science doesn't make you a "political creature" just because the people are politicians. Bullshit is bullshit regardless of the source.

Nye has claimed that terrorism is due to climate change.

Nye advocates for carbon taxes.

He endorsed Obama for re-election in 2012. Frankly, he's quite smart not to endorse anyone this time around. Hopefully, that endorsement isn't what got him that awesomely un-green ride on Air Force One.

I mean really, what would he need to do to convince you he has a public political stance? Just be honest. It's not evil, just something to be aware of.

But it is just going to be preaching to the choir. He's far more likely to reach the anti-science idiots by doing guest spots on various talk shows than he is with his own show. The idiots will just stay in their echo chambers and never see him.

Not even a good one either, given that one of the show's two writers IS a practicing scientist and it being a talk show means that he'll probably be talking TO practicing scientists.

Apparently you don't know what the "appear to authority" fallacy is even though the definition was given to you. Nye's degree is a B.S. in mechanical engineering, so his status as an authority on topics such as climate science is sometimes questioned.

Having authorities on his production staff would probably mitigate this, as long as they are allowed to do their jobs.

Apparently you don't know what an appeal to authority is either.

And neither do several people on Ars.

"when an authority is cited on a topic outside their area of expertise"

Shame Mr Wizard is no longer with us. Him and Bill could have done a duo.

Bill has said Mr. Wizard was his hero and he wanted to grow up to be just like him. I think Bill got his wish.

Mr. Wizard never became a political creature. That is where they differ.

Telling people who are wrong about science that they're wrong about science doesn't make you a "political creature" just because the people are politicians. Bullshit is bullshit regardless of the source.

Nye has claimed that terrorism is due to climate change.

Nye advocates for carbon taxes.

He endorsed Obama for re-election in 2012. Frankly, he's quite smart not to endorse anyone this time around. Hopefully, that endorsement isn't what got him that awesomely un-green ride on Air Force One.

I mean really, what would he need to do to convince you he has a public political stance? Just be honest. It's not evil, just something to be aware of.

Stop trumpeting your own appalling ignorance please.

What's ignorant in there, fanboy? I'm not vilifying the guy. Both he and Neil Degrasse Tyson are smart, but frustrating people. What in there is ignorant? Are they not true?

Not even a good one either, given that one of the show's two writers IS a practicing scientist and it being a talk show means that he'll probably be talking TO practicing scientists.

Apparently you don't know what the "appear to authority" fallacy is even though the definition was given to you. Nye's degree is a B.S. in mechanical engineering, so his status as an authority on topics such as climate science is sometimes questioned.

Having authorities on his production staff would probably mitigate this, as long as they are allowed to do their jobs.

Apparently you don't know what an appeal to authority is either.

And neither do several people on Ars.

"when an authority is cited on a topic outside their area of expertise"

But that's just high school debate team knowledge.

Are you seriously claiming that expertise only comes with a doctorate?

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

For all non-colloquial uses of "the world." It is generally understood that when someone is "saving the world" they are not literally preventing the destruction of a planet, but instead preserving a way of life.

Then those people are using "world" in a way which betrays their myopia, and you shouldn't be anxious to join them in their error.

They really aren't. World is not solely defined as a planet. It has multiple meanings. That you can't easily distinguish between them, and in fact consider alternate definitions incorrect, is only your issue.

As I said, if your idea of "world" is "my way of life", I'm still calling you myopic.

Pedantry is rarely helpful. Being the "well, actually..." person who intrudes into a discussion to insist upon overly specific technical definitions without actually contributing anything to the discussion is what's really myopic.

A small pet peeve that I picked up from Jurassic Park, the novel not the movie.

The world doesn't need saving. Its the biosphere that we live in needs saving so WE can survive without mass extinction. Because if we completely trash this world it will continue to spin and 100,000 years from now something else will take our place. Nature doesn't give a shit about humans. If we screw it up it will shake us off like dead fleas on a dog.

Sorry for the depression negative statement, but its true.

I don't find it depressive, but hopeful. If humans are the best that life has to offer, *that* would be a hopeless state of affairs.

Except for you though, right?

No, not except for me, I'm no different than any other human. You should spend less time with angsty highschoolers though, if that's the response you're used to.

Oh, and this gem. Perhaps you need a thicker skin, Captain "somebody pointed out the fallacy of my argument, so let's go attack him all over the thread".